Faculty

Associate ProfessorsóByl, Hallum

Assistant ProfessorsóRadtka, Richards, Sadowsky, Wanek

Program

Master of Physical Therapy

Program Scope

The graduate program in Physical Therapy leads to the Master of Physical Therapy and prepares the student to sit for licensure as a physical therapist. This degree is offered jointly with the School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco campus. The curriculum prepares clinician-scholars who can assume leadership roles as physical therapy clinicians, clinical educators, collaborative researchers, and managers. The program emphasizes a strong theoretical foundation in basic, medical, and applied sciences with the application of creative problem solving to mitigate disability, optimize function, and maintain positive health. The 27-month program (including summer quarters) consists of 64 semester units of academic course work, laboratory studies, clinical clerkships, and participation in research projects. Students must pass a patient problem-related comprehensive examination during their final semester. Courses are held at both San Francisco State University and the University of California, San Francisco; however students do not travel between campuses during any single day. Clinical clerkships occur at affiliated agencies throughout California but are primarily located in the northern and central regions of the state.

Career Outlook

The career outlook for physical therapists is very good with graduates employed in acute and rehabilitation hospitals, private practice and outpatient clinics, schools, community agencies, and academic programs.

Admission to Program

Thirty-two students are admitted to each class and begin their studies in June. Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution and meet all general admissions requirements for graduate study at both San Francisco State University and the University of California, San Francisco. Any major is acceptable providing the applicant has completed the following program prerequisites before entry.

Units

Basic Courses

General Chemistry with laboratories 10
General Physics with laboratories 8
Human or Comparative Anatomy with laboratory 3
Human Physiology with laboratory 4
General Microbiology/Cell Biology/Histology 3

Have at least a 3.0 grade point average in baccalaureate studies and in overall college course work in the basic sciences including the prerequisites specified above.

Be able to demonstrate understanding of the work and profession of physical therapy, gained through paid or volunteer experience in a variety of settings under the supervision of a physical therapist.

Submit Graduate Record Examination scores including verbal, quantitative sections, and analytical sections. These must be no more than five years old. (A specific minimum GRE score is not required; however, scores will be considered in conjunction with other criteria in assessing the applicant's probability of success in the program.)

Supply three strong letters of recommendation regarding potential to complete the program and personal compatibility with physical therapy as a profession.

Application Process

Students must submit preliminary applications by 5:00 p.m. of the first Monday in November of the year prior to desired entry (i.e., by November, 1994 for admission in June, 1995). Preliminary application materials are available each July from the Graduate Program in Physical Therapy, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA 94143. The initial application materials must be submitted to UCSF.

Following preliminary screening, applicants meeting basic admissions requirements will be asked to provide official transcripts and letters of recommendation and complete materials for admission to San Francisco State University. Following an interview and an assessment of writing skills, thirty-two students will be accepted for admission to the Physical Therapy Program.

Written English Proficiency Requirement

Students must meet the first level of proficiency in written English as a condition of admission to the Physical Therapy Program. Evaluation of writing skills will be based upon an essay written at the time of the applicant's scheduled interview. The second level of written English proficiency will be demonstrated through papers and manuscripts prepared during the student's final semester in the M.P.T. program.

Advancement to Candidacy

Students may be considered for advancement to candidacy for the Master of Physical Therapy after completing the equivalent of 30 semester units, and following the adviser's approval of the student's proposed courses for an area of emphasis. The student may then formally request advancement to candidacy by filing a Graduate Approved Program.

Culminating Experience

Students will participate in a research project guided by a faculty member and complete a manuscript on one aspect of that research. As a culminating experience, students must successfully complete a written comprehensive examination.

Program Course Work

Courses shown below with quarter-unit values are taken at the University of California, San Francisco. Courses shown with semester-unit values are assigned to San Francisco State University. At San Francisco State University, courses numbering 700 or higher are graduate courses. At the University of California, San Francisco, courses with numbers between 100 and 199 are at the upper division level; courses with numbers between 200 and 399 are graduate courses.